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to transfigure

to transfigure

4 8.2
To change a person or thing so they look more beautiful and spiritual
  • verb
  • /trænsˈfɪɡjʊr/
  • Literature
translation icon : transfigurar
  • The little girl looked at her mother and saw the beloved face transfigured by some sort of glow.
  • transfigured bodies
  • transform and transfigure

Death becomes transfigured from its immediate meaning.

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Examples

  • But then these disciples saw Jesus transfigured in all of his divine glory.

    Blog text (31)
  • Recalling his decades of working with the earth, he concludes that gardening "has entirely transfigured my vision of life."

    Academic text (2008)
  • The young English girl, transfigured by Italy.

  • And why should she not be transfigured?

  • For a moment, his face was transfigured with rage; then, somewhat cowed, he complied with her request.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • For many Jewish families, the premium traditionally placed on men's religious learning was smoothly transfigured into an appreciation of all education.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Even the birthmark was transfigured into the delicate lips of a rosebud.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • In the resurrection, God irrevocably adopts creaturely reality as God's own reality, divinizing and transfiguring it.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The beautiful sunset transfigured the entire landscape, turning it into a magical scene.

  • After the makeover, she felt transfigured, with a newfound confidence shining through.

Synonyms

to turn into
vsto transfigure
890 2.2

To change into something different or make something change

implies becoming more beautiful or elevated rather than only being different
to transform
vsto transfigure
523 3.4

Change something a lot so it looks or works very differently

specifies change toward higher beauty or spiritual quality rather than any change
to translate
vsto transfigure
89 2.9

Change something from one form to another

focuses on improving beauty or spiritual feel rather than changing medium
to morph
vsto transfigure
76 5.8

To change smoothly from one form to another

denotes change toward a more elevated or beautiful state rather than smooth shift
to change shape
vsto transfigure
9 3.6

To become a different shape

carries a sense of making things more beautiful or spiritual rather than mere shape change
to transmute
vsto transfigure
8 7.5

To change something into a different form or material

focuses on raising beauty or spiritual nature rather than material alteration
to metamorphose
vsto transfigure
5 8.2

Change completely in form or appearance

suggests change toward beauty or elevation rather than merely dramatic shift
to change form
vsto transfigure
4 3.9

To become a different shape or look

is used when change produces a more beautiful or elevated look
to transmogrify
vsto transfigure
3 9.9

To change something into a very different form, often as if by magic

seeks to beautify or elevate rather than create odd or comic change
to refashion
vsto transfigure
3 4.9

To change something into a new or different form

implies change aimed at beauty or elevation rather than simple remaking
to shapeshift
vsto transfigure
  • Literature
3 8.6

To change your body or look into another form, often an animal

focuses on lifting beauty or spiritual quality rather than fictional body change
to spiritualize
vsto transfigure
1 8.0

To give something a religious meaning or feeling

aims to make something more beautiful or spiritually elevated

Antonyms

201 3.7

To become less in size, importance, or value

How Dramatic

to transfigure
  • Literature
4 8.2
to transform
523 3.4
to change
1.0
to alter
493 2.5

Surface Forms

transfigure infinitive
transfigured past participle
transfiguring present participle
transfigures third person singular

Morphology

transfigure = figure (semi-transparent) = trans + figure

While 'trans' and 'figure' are clear, the specific meaning of a spiritual or elevated transformation is not directly derivable.

Etymology

Transfigure comes from trans- meaning 'across' or 'beyond' and figure meaning 'shape', the same trans- you see in transform. So to transfigure someone or something is to change their shape or appearance into something more beautiful or more spiritual.